The Image staff muses on the culture of keeping up appearances

Sunscreens that multitask as much as we do

Each summer, the shelves at my local drugstore practically groan from all the sunscreen. Every year, there seem to be more SPF lotions and sprays, more SPF face powders and lip balms.

I've tried so many different formulas and brands over the years, and been disappointed so many times, that my expectations were fairly low when my editor handed me a bag of new sunscreens asking me to test them and write up a story.

As a former tanning salon junkie, recent basal cell skin cancer diagnosee and all-around pasty white girl, I was particularly intrigued by the broad-spectrum sunscreen and self-tanner from Supergoop!

The box promised to give me a golden glow and to protect me from the sun without the paraben, oxybenzone and other nasties or leaving residue on my clothes or towels -- all of which sounded too good to be true.

But I've used it. I love it. And I will be buying more throughout the summer. The tan looks natural and it didn't rub off on or destroy my clothes.